Russia observes `Day of Silence` ahead of polls

Moscow: A national `Day of Silence` was observed in Russia on Saturday ahead of the parliamentary elections Dec 4.

During the silence period no active campaigning by the candidates or political advertisement in the media are allowed.

All of Russia`s seven registered political parties will take part in the elections. Four parties - United Russia, the Communist Party, the ultranationalist LDPR, and A Just Russia - are currently represented in Parliament.

The other three - Yabloko, the Right Cause and Patriots of Russia - will strive to pass the seven-percent threshold to make it into the State Duma for the first time.
Meanwhile, Russia is all set for elections with the first polling stations opening at 8.00 am on Sunday in Kamchatka and Chukotka regions in Russia`s Far East.

Around 96,000 polling booths have been set up across the country. A total of 650 international observers will ensure transparency and fairness of the elections.
Exit poll results will only be made public after the last ballots are cast in western Russia. Eleven time zones split the sprawling country from Kamchatka in Far East to St Petersburg in the west.